A city centre nightclub has applied to extend its opening hours to serve booze until 4am making it the latest club in the city – however the plan has been met with objections.

Residents who live near the club say they are concerned that the longer hours would see a rise in ongoing late night anti-social behaviour that is blighting the city centre.

Vodka, in Upper Brook Street, is a mecca for students and is currently allowed to open until 1.30am Monday to Wednesday, until 2.30am Thursday to Saturday and until midnight on Sunday.

However, co-owners Kalvin Collymore and Lee Davies who moved to the city in 2005, have grand plans for the club, and as well as currently carrying out a £130,000 refurbishment to upgrade its toilets, welfare facilities, layout and soundproofing, they hope to extend their licence to 3am Monday to Wednesday, and 4am Thursday to Saturday.

Despite residents' fears, the pair say the application has a much broader scope than just the opening hours, and a significant amount of time, money and effort has been put into improving the venue and keeping partygoers and residents safe. 

Rich Sims, who is a consultant for the club, said: “Winchester only has one nightclub, and for it to survive and modernise it needs to be recognised as such. So, just getting that terminal hour helps.

"But, there's no point going for the terminal hour if you aren't going to look at the whole business from start to finish. This is where the layout changes come in. The changes will stop any noise from escaping from the club rooms and make customers more comfortable as they're going around, as well as the introduction of a new medical facility.

"You want Winchester to have a nightclub they can be proud of and feel safe in. As a parent myself I want to know wherever my girls go out there is a responsibility on the club and its security for their safety. The guys here have done a lot off their own backs, including introducing ID scanners which they're not required by licence to do, in order to create that environment." 

In agreement with the council, Vodka held a trial month for the new opening hours and dispersal policy earlier this year. During that time, it says the authority didn't receive any complaints regarding noise or anti-social behaviour. 

However, not everyone is happy. One resident, who lives in Upper Brook Street, has called on her neighbours to oppose the extended hours.

She said people leaving the club have caused her anxiety and sleepless nights and that she fears for her safety when drunken revellers are passing by her house.

The resident, who did not want to be named for fear of being targeted, said her car had been vandalised by people running over it, that she has witnessed fighting in the street and seen windows being smashed.

She said: “My bedroom is right at the front of the house, I cannot move it. When I have my window open, I can hear screaming, I can’t sleep. My anxiety levels are though the roof.

“4am is too late. Aren’t these people supposed to be at college or in work? It is ridiculous.”  

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She said she fears the extra hours would lead to more alcohol being consumed and more people passing by her house for a greater period of time. She is also concerned about the plans to extend the smoking area at the back, saying that would allow more noise pollution to infiltrate the city.

Not all residents are completely opposed to the plan, but most agree there is a lot of work needed to tackle anti-social behaviour late at night in the city.

Luke Taylor, who lives in Upper Brook Street, said they had often experienced anti-social behaviour outside their flat, which is made worse at club closing time.

He said that they had witnessed violence, vandalism, medical episodes, and much more.

He said they had been subject to abuse and had seen revellers smashing down barriers, breaking glasses, urinating, and vomiting. They have even found blood on the pavement outside their back door.

Things have even been thrown into their open window, in one weird incident McDonald’s burgers were thrown into their bathroom.

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Luke said he was not opposed to the longer opening hours, if it meant a more staggered kicking out time, but he called for the nightclub owner to work with the local community to clamp down on the anti-social behaviour.

He said: “The club has a social responsibility. Their bouncers protect their immediate space but as a resident who lives so close, I would appreciate them extending their coverage slightly to ensure people are on their way at the end of the night.

"It’s a catch 22. It would be easy for me to say 'shut it down' and to immediately throw out the idea of 4am closing, but I get the rationale. If it is a well thought out way to deal with an ongoing issue then I am all in favour, however if it is just a way for them to make money with no regard for their neighbours then I oppose. The club needs to work with the residents if they are to get their support.”

Both Mr Davies and Mr Collymore have agreed additional safeguarding measures with Hampshire Constabulary, which will see the venue take on up to 12 new staff members, including additional security and a welfare officer. 

As part of the proposals, bouncers would patrol the wider city centre to make sure people disperse and get home safely. 

Mr Sims added: "By having that extra hour your security team and your management team have more control of that environment. No longer will people be getting kicked out around town at the same time, nor will they be congregating at the food outlets as they will be closed by the time the venue shuts. People will disperse naturally and at different times.

"The guys have allowed the dispersal policy to encompass not just the direct area outside the venue but the wider city centre. So, the security team at the very end of the night will go round and walk the streets of Winchester, looking for anybody that's in a vulnerable state, ultimately giving that extra layer of protection that sometimes not even the police have the resources to provide."

The plan is available to view on Winchester City Council’s website, search reference 21/00746/LAPMV.

People have until September 21 to comment.